Adjustable ladder construction for fire escape platforms and the like



Jan. 20, 1970 R. J. AucaeLLo ET AL 3,490,557

ADJUSTABLE LADDER CONSTRUCTION FOR FIRE ESCAPE PLATFORMS AND THE LIKE Filed July 7, 19a? 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 20, 1970 ii. J. AUCIELLO ET AL 3,490,557

ESCAPE ADJUSTABLE LADDER CONSTRUCTION FOR FIRE PLATFORMS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July '7, 1967 Jan. 20, 1970 R. .1. AUCiELLO ET AL 3,490,557

ESCAPE ADJUSTABLE LADDER CONSTRUCTION FOR FIRE PLATFORMS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 7, 196'? Jan. 20, 1970 J, uclELLo ET AL 3,49%,557

ADJUSTABLE LADDER CONSTRUCTION FOR FIRE ESCAPE PLATFORMS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 7. 1967 United States Patent 3 490 557 ADJUSTABLE LADDERcoNsTRUcTIoN FOR FIRE ESCAPE PLATFORMS AND THE LIKE Ralph J. Auciello, 24 Mapletou St., and Michael A. Au-

ciello, 254 Market St., both of Brighton, Mass. 02135 Filed July 7, 1967, Ser. No. 651,748

Int. Cl. E06c 9/00, 7/16 US. Cl. 18278 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is concerned with a pivotally mounted ladder construction specifically designed for use with fire escape platforms and other flooring constructions, particularly of the type used in apartment houses at an exterior wall thereof. The platforms are customarily enclosed by a railing or balustrate and project outwardly from the building at different levels one above another. The ladder construction includes telescoping ladder sections resiliently connected together and recessed in the platform body so as to be dropped down and extened to constitute a stairway for descending from one level to another in the event of fire. I

Folding or collapsing stairways of various types have been proposed and are in use in attics, ceilings and similar locations. However, arrangements of this sort are found to be impractical for use in fire escape platforms, both from the standpoint of operating safely and efiiciently, as well as from the standpoint of being tamperproof to prevent unauthorized access from an underside thereof and being resistant to varying weather conditions.

It is a chief object of the invention therefore to devise a ladder construction which can be installed in a fire escape platform in a completely recessed position so that the platform may be used in a normal manner when the ladder is not in an operating position. Another object is to provide an arrangement for use at all times and readily operable by simply making one single weight adjustment. Thus in the event of fire the ladder is so arranged as not to present any complicated mechanism to delay instant use when this becomes necessary. It is also an essential object of the invention to provide an arrangement which will resist tampering from points below the ladder con struction.

With the foregoing objectives in mind, we have conceived of a telescoping ladder construction which can be rigidly mounted in a fire escape platform and which can be spring balanced in such a manner that the entire ladder assembly may be operated instantly by exerting a light pressure with the foot against an upper rung section of the ladder. From a fully extended position, the telescoping ladder construction may be returned to a fully nested horizontal position with a very slight lifting force being exerted by hand by an operator. Other details of the construction and operation of the ladder construction of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating a portion of a building exterior on which fire escape platforms are located in vertically spaced apart relation "ice and associated with one of the platforms is the ladder construction of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a fire escape platform showing the ladder construction of the invention installed therein and further indicating a cover member partly removed;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged plan view of the ladder construction shown with its cover member completely removed;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken along one side of the ladder construction;

FIGURE 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view in partial cross section showing the ladder construction in a lowered position;

FIGURE 8 is a detail perspective view of telescoping ladder sections;

FIGURE 9 is a detail view showing stop means for positioning the ladder sections in a fully extended position;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of the ladder suspended from a platform in a fully extended position;

FIGURE 11 is a detail perspective view; and

FIGURE 12 is another detail perspective view of a ladder enclosing frame.

Referring more in detail to the structure shown in the drawings, numeral 2 denotes a building of the type commonly required to be equipped with fire escape platforms as 4 and 6 located one above another and having railings or balustrates as 8 and 10. These fire escape platforms are customarily formed of conventional building materials such as steel, concrete and the like and are of an appreciable thickness.

In accordance with the invention, I provide a ladder enclosing frame 12 which is most clearly illustrated in FIGURE 12 and which is made of a depth corresponding to or slightly less than the thickness of the platform. The frame 12 is constructed with a flange which is received against adjacent surfaces of an opening in the platform 4 as shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6. The frame is preferably provided with retainer brackets as 14 and 16 which are designed to be set in the concrete of the platform 4 at the time of its forming.

Within the space comprised by the sides of frame 12 is contained the telescoping ladder components of the invention which generally include a base, a plurality of ladder sections supported on the base and spring-loading means for controlling movement of the ladder sections into and out of telescoping relationship to one another.

Numeral 18 denotes the base which in one preferred form consists of a relatively thin panel of Masonite, plywood or the like shaped to fit snugly into the bottom opening of the frame 12 to close this opening. Solidly mounted to the upper side of the base panel 18 are a plurality of inwardly angled brackets as 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30 which support at their upper ends top ladder sections 32 and 34 as best shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. Also secured between the top ladder sections 32 and 34 are ladder rungs or steps 35. The ladder sections 3'2 and 34, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 are made of channelled cross sections having their channelled edges extending inwardly as indicated.

Slidably supported on the lower channelled edges of members 32 and 34, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, are center ladder sections 36 and 3-8 also made of channelled cross section and having channelled edges extending away from one another as indicated. These channel sections 36 and 38 are connected together by ladder rungs or steps 39. Slidably supported on the lower channelled edges of sections 36 and 38 are two bottom ladder sections 40 and 42 connected together by rungs or steps 43.

Sliding movement of the several ladder sections is preferably limited in some suitable manner as, for example, by means of stops arranged as shown in FIGURE 9 and denoted by the numerals 34a, 38a and 42a. Various other stop means may be employed.

The entire assembly of ladder components, including top sections 32 and 34, center sections 36 and 38 and bottom sections 40 and 42 is designed to function as a pivoting unit which in response to forces of gravity may become readily extended into a downwardly angled position such as that shown in FIGURE 10.

As one means of thus pivotally containing the ladder assembly we provide a shaft member 44 which has opposite extremities thereof received through the brackets 20 and 26 and projecting outwardly as shown in FIGURE to provide bearing ends. These bearing ends are pivotally supported in U-shaped bearings 46 and 48 provided in the frame 12 as further shown in FIGURE 7. One of the bearings 48 is further illustrated in FIGURE 12.

By means of the shaft arrangement described, it will be observed that one end only of the ladder unit is supported in the frame. To adjustably support the opposite end we provide for a spring-balancing arrangement including a pair of coiled spring members 50 and 52. These spring members are most clearly shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 and as indicated therein are anchored to the frame by spring retaining members 54 and 56 provided in the frame 12. At their opposite ends the springs are attached to a transverse bar 58 in openings 60 and 6-2. The transverse bar member 58 is rigidly fastened to top ladder sections 32 and 34 as indicated in FIGURE 3.

Attached to one of the rungs 43 of the bottom ladder section is further provided a spring-loaded tape element 64 which is resiliently contained in a reel member 66 in turn secured centrally of the shaft 44 on an arm 68. The pulling tension of reel 66 and tape 64 is adjustable to provide a retractive force which can be varied and which acts to retract the center and bottom ladder sections when a light lifting force is exerted at the lower end of the bottom ladder section. The combined holding forces of the coiled springs and the reel and tape described normally serve to yieldably hold the ladder sections in a stored position.

In controlling the spring balancing of the ladder sections for telescoping movement, one within the other, it is intended that the spring tension of the reel may be adjusted to a point such that a very light pressure as, for example, the pressure exerted by stepping with one foot onto a ladder rung may depress the top ladder section a slight distance. In this position gravity forces cause the center and bottom ladder sections to slide downwardly into the extended position of FIGURE 10. In this connection it may be desired to have the top rung or step of the top ladder section bear a notation in full view such as STEP HERE.

It will be understood that in some cases the ladder sections may reach downwardly from one platform into contact with another platform immediately below, and in other cases the lower end of the ladder section in a fully extended position may not be of sufficient length to reach into contact with a platform below. In the latter instance we may also provide pivoting link mechanisms for cooperating with the shaft 44 and guiding and holding the ladder sections in desired positions of angular adjustment.

FIGURES l, 3 and 10 best show these two link mechanisms which include an upper link 70 and a lower link 72, also an upper link 74 and a lowerlink 76. The upper links 70 and 74 are pivotally mounted on pins 75 and 77 transversely located in opposite sides of the frame 12. Lower links 72 and 76 are pinned at 82 and 84 to the upper links and have their lower ends pivoted on pins 78 and 80 in ladder sections 32 and 34. Also attached to the lower links 72 and 76 are arcuate guide arms and 92 which in a fully collapsed position of the ladder sections engage around guide pins 94 and 96 located through opposite sides of foot members 98 and 100.

It will be noted that the several ladder sections when resiliently contained in a fully collapsed or stored position in the frame 12, occur in recessed relationship to the top surface of the platform 4 and it is necessary to cover this opening with a cover member which can be conveniently operated. For this purpose the frame 12 is formed with a series of supporting brackets 112, 114, 116 and 118 as illustrated in FIGURE 12 which occur below the upper flanged edge of the frame to receive a cover element 120 (FIGURE 2). The cover 120 fits into the platform substantially flush with the upper surface thereof.

We have also constructed the cover 120 with a locking arm 122 which is secured to the underside of cover 120 as best shown in FIGURE 6. The arm 122 is formed with a downwardly angled portion which is so arranged as to extend under and lock with an edge of the top ladder section 32. FIGURE 2. illustrates the cover in a partly installed position showing the locking arm 122 as it starts to engage under an adjacent ladder section edge.

The cover is readily removed from the upper side by means of finger slot 124 by simply lifting up one edge of the cover and then sliding it to one side until the angled locking arm portion is completely disengaged. With this locking arrangement it will be noted that the cover cannot be dislodged from the bottom side of the ladder assembly since it is necessary to lift the cover and then displace it sideways for an appreciable distance in order to disengage the locking arm.

In operation the cover is removed as described and an occupant then places One foot on the top rung of the top ladder section and exerts a light pressure. This acts on the spring balanced assembly overcoming the resistance of the reel and coil springs and the ladder assembly starts to pivot downwardly. Immediately thereafter forces of gravity act on the center ladder section and the bottom ladder section and both of these ladder sections slide into a downwardly inclined position and become stopped by the stop elements described above. The occupant can then descend the stairway as desired.

' In returning the ladder assembly to a stored position the occupant simply exerts a very light lifting force on the bottom section of the ladder and this force, combined with the spring tension in the reel, instantly causes the two lower sections of the ladder to retract and simultaneously the coiled springs act on the top ladder section causing this component to be swung upwardly into a stored position.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be apparent that we have provided a compact and readily installed fire escape unit which can be conveniently stored out of the way when not in use and which can be placed in an operative position by merely removing the cover and stepping on the top rung as described above. At all times the device is locked against tampering from the underside so as to afford protection against burglary or other intrusions. The unit is also constructed such that the components are sheltered from weather conditions when not in use.

While we have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A collapsible ladder apparatus for installation in a platform or flooring construction comprising a frame, a plurality of ladder sections mounted in the frame and slidably disposed on one another for telescoping movement into a fully extended angularly disposed position at the underside of the frame, means for pivotally supporting the ladder sections in the frame and spring means for resiliently securing the ladder sections together in springbalanced relationship, said ladder sections including folding linkages pivotally attached to opposite sides of the frame for limiting the angle of inclination of the ladder sections when in a fully extended position, and said folding linkages including arcuate link guides which cooperate with guide pins located in the said lower ladder sections.

2. A collapsible ladder apparatus for installation in a platform or flooring construction comprising a frame, a plurality of ladder sections mounted in the frame and slidably disposed on one another for telescoping movement into a fully extended angularly disposed position at the underside of the frame, means for pivotally supporting the ladder sections in the frame, spring means for resiliently securing the ladder sections together in spring balanced relationship, said ladder apparatus further including an upper cover element and a locking arm fixed to the underside of the cover for engaging with the top ladder sections and preventing removal of the cover from an underside of the ladder structure.

3. A collapsible ladder for use in a fire escape platform comprising a frame recessed in the platform and flush with top and bottom sections of the platform, said frame being open at its top and bottom sides, a pivoting base member swingably mounted in the frame for adjustably closing the said open bottom side, said base carrying a plurality of extensible ladder sections which in a stored position are completely enclosed within the sides of the frame, means for holding the pivoting base and ladder sections and securing the base and ladder sections lationship when the ladder sections are contained within the frame in a collapsible position, a cover member fitted to close the opening at the upper side of the frame flush with the surface of the platform and to protectively overlie the ladder sections in spaced relation thereto, and said cover member being engaged against stops in the frame and further includes locking means for engaging with the ladder sections and securing the base and ladder sections interlocked with the frame to resist displacement by forces exerted on the underside of the platform.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,203,086 6/1940 Garner 18280 2,163,142 6/1939 Frazier 182-78 2,901,056 8/ 1959 McConologue 182-208 FOREIGN PATENTS 203,697 5/ 1959 Austria.

647,747 12/ 1950 Great Britain.

552,073 11/1956 Belgium 941,748 4/ 1956 Germany.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 182-1l5 

